Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LGBT. Show all posts

Monday, June 12, 2017

Green energy money may go to schools, donated swim gear stolen from soldiers, Waikiki fireworks revived, 47 want to be Honolulu zookeeper, grant award questioned, Maui reconsiders liquor law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii beach scene © 2017 All Hawaii News
Wondering if your favorite beach is safe for a swim? You’ll know a lot sooner now that the state is implementing new public notification procedures that require signs posted as soon as test results show the water quality does not reach safety standards. West Hawaii Today.

The state might pull one-third of the money from its stagnant $150 million green energy loan program to help lower electrical bills at Hawaii’s public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers this year approved a grant worth hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to a privately owned Hawaii island well-drilling company through a process usually used to fund nonprofit social service organizations, and some lawmakers are wondering why. Star-Advertiser.

Governor to explore possibility of special session for rail. KHON2.

VIDEO: Officials Testify On Hawaii Missile Defeat Programs. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii had the eighth-fastest growing solar market in the United States in the first quarter of 2017, adding 76.4 megawatts of solar capacity between January and March, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

XLR8UH, the University of Hawaii’s accelerator program, was named one of the nation's best startup accelerators of 2017. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The latest report card shows that homeless people placed into market-rate apartments through the city’s Housing First program continue to do better than their counterparts on the street — and are far less likely to use drugs and alcohol, get arrested or rely on hospital emergency rooms. Star-Advertiser.

Demand for farm land is so great in Hawaii, Aloun Farms is trying to speed up its sale of acres in Central Oahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Sorry State Of Many Honolulu Parks. Millions of dollars have been spent on Oahu parks in the past decade, but some have fared better than others. Civil Beat.

Members of the state Land Use Commission last month threw the question of keeping open Oahu’s only public landfill back to the Honolulu Planning Commission to clear up technical errors, but not before criticizing city officials for foot-dragging. Star-Advertiser.

The city received applications from 47 people hoping to be the next director of the Honolulu Zoo, but only 10 were deemed qualified, city Human Resources Director Carolee Kubo said Friday. Star-Advertiser.

The city is moving forward on plans to shore up a portion of the crumbling sea wall that protects Kapiolani Park between the Queen’s Surf groin and the Waikiki Aquarium. Star-Advertiser.

Twenty-five years of weekly fireworks in Waikiki almost came to an indefinite end Friday after a disagreement over how much money the show’s organizer should pay for impeding public use of the beach fronting Hilton Hawaiian Village during the event. Star-Advertiser.

Kaimuki High School is the latest-starting public school in Hawaii, and according to a preliminary study, students there think the later morning bell may make for better health and academic performance. Civil Beat.

Supporters of LGBT rights gathered at the state capitol on Sunday for the Honolulu Equality March for Unity and Pride. Hawaii News Now.

Survey Of Homeless Kids To Include Sexual Orientation Information. A national survey found 40 percent of homeless youths identify as LGBTQ. Service providers will soon have data for Oahu. Civil Beat.

After a man allegedly damaged glass doors at Iolani Palace late May, appraisers said the price tag of the doors is $375,000. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Members of a nonprofit group were disheartened over the theft of swim gear donated to soldiers, training on the Big Island, for their rest and relaxation. West Hawaii Today.

Two Hilo colleges are divided over stone altars, or ahu, with inverted Hawaii flags constructed on campuses by students. Associated Press.

Hilo colleges are taking different approaches to two on-campus ahu — or stone altars — which a student group claims it constructed to bring attention to “124 years of genocide continuing on the Hawaiian community.” Tribune-Herald.

Entries for a lottery that will determine the waiting list order for two local affordable housing projects are being accepted online through June 14. The lottery is scheduled for June 20. West Hawaii Today.

The days of Pagoda Hilo Bay Hotel — formerly known as Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel — are coming to an end. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii island lava tour boat operator was fined $15,000 Friday for three violations of state boating rules. Star-Advertiser.

Though the enthusiasm and passion for getting involved in Hawaii’s young hemp industry was on display during Saturday’s conference, many in attendance also expressed concern about potential stumbling blocks in the path. Tribune-Herald.

Doctors at the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu have begun making virtual rounds to treat the most critical intensive care patients on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Graham Ellis, who made headlines this week after he was picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and subsequently given 45 days to depart the country voluntarily, will leave a few loose ends on Hawaii Island when he returns to England on July 20. West Hawaii Today.

Turtle monitoring efforts ramp up: Nesting season is a busy time for researchers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Liquor Commission will meet on July 12 for a public hearing to consider proposed changes to the existing rules that were implemented in February. Maui Now.

Simply put, there isn’t enough federal and state money to pay for all of Maui County’s highway maintenance and expansion needs — now projected to cost $3.1 billion through 2035, members of the Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization heard last week. Maui News.

Maui Police Department Chief Tivoli Faaumu has received high marks in all categories in his annual review and evaluation by the Maui Police Commission. Maui News.

Chemical farming’s impacts on Maui’s environment and the public will be the topic of discussion at a gathering at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Paia Community Center. Maui News.

Median prices for single-family houses and condominiums on Maui increased by double-digit percentages in May as low inventory prompted buyers to snap up properties at a rapid pace. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council is expected to discuss several requests from the county to apply for grants for services at its meeting Wednesday beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Historic County Building. Garden Island.

The environmental law group Earthjustice is asking for better survey methods for finding marine mammals in target areas for military weapons testing around Kauai. Garden Island.

After almost 20 years since legalization, medical marijuana patients on Kauai may be able to purchase state-approved cannibas by October. Garden Island.

County cemeteries are filling up. KHHA president is seeking additional land for Kekaha Hawaiian Cemetery. Garden Island.

Waioli Corporation gets $550,000 to build interactive park featuring Hawaii locomotives. Garden Island.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Movie criticized for white actor portraying Native Hawaiian hero, active hurricane season expected, trial begins in fireworks bunker explosion, liquor sales and hostess bars big issues on Maui, OHA called secretive, plastic bags and polystyrene at issue, PUC rejects HELCO power plant purchase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Photo: US Army Signal Corps/University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
Benehakaka Kanahele honored at ceremony. Photo: US Army Signal Corps/University of Hawaii at Manoa Library
In a move that's prompting growing condemnation, New York actor Zach McGowan has been cast as the Native Hawaiian hero in an upcoming movie about the Battle of Niihau. Hawaii News Now.

Movie under fire for casting Caucasian actor as real-life Native Hawaiian war hero. The movie, called “Niihau,” is  based on the true story of Benehakaka “Ben” Kanahele, a Native Hawaiian WWII hero who received a Medal for Merit and a Purple Heart. KHON2.

Forecasters say Hawaii is likely to see an active hurricane season if signs of a developing El Nino continue to hold true. Star-Advertiser.

Members of the LGBT community are more likely to suffer health problems than heterosexuals in Hawaii, according to a new state Department of Health report. Star-Advertiser.

A new report identifies 42 government agencies across the country that have poor practices when it comes to online spending transparency. One of them is the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the only city, county or state agency named from Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Residents Rally to Voice Displeasure at State Capitol. Hawaii Public Radio.

The mayors of Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties are proposing property tax increases to cover rising costs and state cuts. Hawaii News Now.

Starting next school year, 52 public schools will serve free breakfast and lunch to all 25,000 children in their schools, regardless of a family’s ability to pay, as the Department of Education expands its free-meals program to benefit more low-income communities. Star-Advertiser.

There will be an estimated demand for 65,000 housing units by 2025 in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Telcom reported a net loss of $2 million, or 17 cents per diluted share for the first quarter ending March 31. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday will consider a measure that aims to increase the number of lower-priced homes built near the rail line. Civil Beat.

The City Council's Zoning Committee will likely place a hold on plans to build a 26-story condo transit-oriented development project on Sheridan Street. Hawaii News Now.

The criminal trial against a company accused of mishandling fireworks involved in a deadly 2011 Hawaii explosion is about reckless disregard for the law and safety, a federal prosecutor told jurors today. Star-Advertiser.

The criminal trial against a company accused of mishandling fireworks involved in a deadly 2011 Hawaii explosion is about reckless disregard for the law and safety, a federal prosecutor told jurors Tuesday. Associated Press.

In opening statements Tuesday, federal prosecutors said a company and one of its executive tied to a 2011 Waikele bunker blast that killed five employees showed a "reckless disregard" for safety. Hawaii News Now.

It Looks Like Political Insiders Will Help Pick The Next Honolulu Police Chief. Concerns are being raised about the lack of Native Hawaiians, Micronesians and other groups on a citizen selection committee organized by the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Octogenarian among Section 8 tenants told to vacate affordable units. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa's 35-year-old practice gyms for basketball and volleyball wil‎l receive $9.3 million-$12 million in renovation and improvements. Star-Advertiser.

A group of volunteers plans to move forward with maintenance and repair efforts at the dilapidated Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City even after a bill died in the Legislature that was intended to protect them from liability. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state Department of Health has fined the City and County of Honolulu and Southland Mole JV a combined $700,000 for Clean Water Act violations associated with the construction of a sewer tunnel between Kaneohe and Kailua. Pacific Business News.

Some plastic bags are already banned on Oahu --  but environmentalists and a Honolulu Councilman want to block even more plastic from the check out stand. KITV.

A real-life K-drama involving a roughly $50 million retail complex on Keeaumoku Street has taken a new turn with fresh allegations of fraudulent ownership after a federal judge recently decided what should happen to the property. Star-Advertiser.

Michael Titterton, the former president and general manager of Hawaii Public Radio, has been named president of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Pacific Business News.

A retired University of Hawaii associate professor, who was once the rallying point for academic freedom after being fired for expressing views against the Vietnam War in the 1960s, has died. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The state Public Utilities Commission has denied Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s request to buy the Hamakua Energy Partners power plant. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has rejected an application by a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co. to purchase a Big Island power plant for more than $86 million, saying the benefits to customers would be “marginal.” Pacific Business News.

Resolution says infrastructure, public services lagging in Puna, Ka‘u despite civil rights ruling in 2000. Tribune-Herald.

A county public housing project is about to become the first on the island to ban smoking, and that’s causing problems for one resident, who’s considering a lawsuit if he’s barred from smoking medical marijuana in his home. West Hawaii Today.

Authorities have found the woman suspected of painting graffiti on a mountain held sacred by Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

Ethics Board member Rick Robinson criticized the conduct of state official Edward Underwood, the administrator of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, during a meeting in Hilo Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Public hearing set for Saddle Road extension environmental impact statement. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, current Hiroshima governor Hidehiko Yuzaki, along with members of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, attended a rededication ceremony for a stone lantern donated to the garden in 1968 by the governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, and commemorated the centennial anniversary of the gardens themselves by planting a black pine. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Families of victims of drunken driving, recovering alcoholics and a former mayor were among about 50 people who all opposed the Maui County Liquor Control Commission’s decision in February to allow 24-hour retail sale of alcohol and to remove the cap on hostess bars in the county during a special meeting Tuesday. Maui News.

The Maui Liquor Commission convened today in Wailuku for a special meeting, prior to tomorrow’s regular session to review a request for a repeal of amendments relating to alcohol sales; and a petition to amend rules relating to hostess bars in Maui County. Maui Now.

Three months after the Maui Liquor Commission decided to allow liquor sales 24/7, many community members are fighting back. Dozens testified at a meeting Tuesday in Wailuku. KITV.

Maui residents spoke out Tuesday against changes to the county’s liquor laws. KHON2.

=====

The final environmental impact statement has been released for the proposed 75-acre Piilani Promenade, a housing and commercial project that’s been scaled back since the Kihei community objected to original plans for two megamalls. Maui News.

The majority of the 36 people who testified at Monday’s County Council meeting favored the ban on the sale and use of polystyrene containers, a staple of takeout food eateries, that is a step away from being approved. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. will begin construction this month of its Kuihelani Substation near the intersection of Kuihelani Highway and Maui Lani Parkway. Maui News.

Kauai

Two members of the Kauai County Council are gearing up to propose a measure addressing single-use polystyrene, similar to a bill the Maui County Council took under consideration Tuesday. Garden Island.

Kaua'i residents are pleading with state officials to do more to crackdown on illegal camping in Kalalau Valley. KITV.

Brittany Steinbeck is determined to help open Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School by the next school year. Garden Island.

County offers free composting bins. County recycling team promotes recycling food scraps. Garden Island.

Hundreds celebrate John Lydgate’s life. Hundreds celebrate man who dedicated life to isle. Garden Island.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Gay tourism touted, new beach bacteria signs coming, human trafficking groups meet, UH-Hilo enrollment drops again, sex abuse at Oahu prison investigated, Molokai ferry struggling, Coco Palms rebuild planned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Gay pride parade, Hilo © 2016 All Hawaii News
The rainbow is already a major tourism brand for Hawaii, but industry experts say connecting with the LGBT community could put a pot of gold at the end of it. Star-Advertiser.

State to roll out new signs warning of water pollution. KITV.

In recent years, Hawaii’s state-run highways and roads have held firm as some of the worst in the nation, the Reason Foundation’s latest annual report shows. Star-Advertiser.

Prosecutors from a dozen states and eight countries are meeting in Waikiki to talk about the global problem of sex trafficking. Associated Press.

The federal prosecutor in the “Wonder Blunder” case wants to submit as trial evidence to a jury the alleged scammer’s guilty plea in a similar case in Pennsylvania. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy investigated a case of a sailor who didn’t salute as the national anthem played during a recent morning flag-raising at Pearl Harbor. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Caldwell administration is seeking to award a $50 million contract to convert yellowish high-pressure sodium lights to white-ish light-emitting diodes (LED) islandwide. Civil Beat.

Laid-Back, Aging Manoa Is No Longer A Haven For Young Families. The community near the University of Hawaii is still friendly, quiet and rainy, but rising housing prices bring changes. Civil Beat.

The list of Hawaii adult corrections officers accused of sexually assaulting female inmates has grown. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday that it was letting go of 15 editorial employees effective Oct. 17. Pacific Business News.

Oahu Publications plans to cut 15 jobs at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, a move that will trim the newsroom of about 110 editorial employees by more than 10 percent. Civil Beat.

$5.4 million contract for new jail site involves more than just scouting. KHON2.

After only two years of service, Mokulele Airlines will end its service out of Kalaeloa Airport in southwest Oahu. Associated Press.

A lawsuit filed against developer D.G. “Andy” Anderson alleges he is operating a Haleiwa restaurant without legal permits and continuing to let treated wastewater contaminate nearby waters. Star-Advertiser.

Several Hawaii residents are suing the property owners of a North Shore restaurant for allegedly violating permitting law and polluting Haleiwa by using an improper septic system. Civil Beat.

NOAA is apologizing to the public over how the carcasses of three sea turtles were handled. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii


Overnight parking will likely soon become a thing of the past in the county lot situated between Kuakini Highway and Likana Lane. West Hawaii Today.

Fall enrollment at the University of Hawaii at Hilo declined for the fourth consecutive year, prodding administrators to revamp recruitment materials in hopes of attracting — and retaining — more students. Tribune-Herald.

A balloon was floated at the planned site of the Thirty Meter Telescope in the summit area of Mauna Kea during a site visit on Monday. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Progress continues on the long-awaited Kihei high school, with a $21 million contract awarded last week for infrastructure work, but costs continue to climb and the completion date keeps being pushed back, now to 2022. Maui News.

After strong opposition from the Kaanapali community over the most recently proposed site for a million-gallon treated wastewater storage tank, the county Department of Environmental Management is looking into different locations for the tank as it works to deal with a lawsuit over injection wells at the Lahaina wastewater treatment plant. Maui News.

The Philippine Consulate will conduct a mobile outreach on Molokai and Maui in early October, visiting Molokai on Saturday and Sunday, and Maui on Oct. 15 and 16. The outreach will provide on-island services for Philippine passport renewal, dual citizenship and authentication. Maui News.


Kauai

The Kauai County Planning Department and developers of the Coco Palms Resort have agreed on some changes tied to redevelopment permits to ensure the iconic hotel is rebuilt. Star-Advertiser.

Nineteen political candidates from the state legislative offices, Kauai County Council, and prosecuting attorney attended a political coffee hour Tuesday morning at the Lihue Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School still needs a home. While the school was unanimously approved by the Hawaii State Charter School Commission in August, it still needs land and a building. Garden Island.

Molokai

A ferry service on Moloka‘i is struggling to stay afloat and may have to shut down. The company that has been operating the service for nearly 30 years says low ridership and competing air fares are to blame. Hawaii Public Radio.

Friday, November 22, 2013

State may pre-empt county GMO, pesticide laws, Hanabusa lags Schatz in fund-raising, Kauai police probe Bieber security attack on cameraman, homeless up 8.6%, Hawaiian Affairs, Home Lands, under fire, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

photo by Georgette Deemer
Christmas tree goes up at Honolulu Hale, courtesy of Georgette Deemer
A Christmas tree need not come from the Pacific Northwest to be beautiful. Locally grown Christmas trees are plentiful on Oahu and Maui, and state officials and online searches identified additional growers on Oahu and Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are considering legislation affecting genetically modified crops and pesticides now that several counties have taken steps to regulate them. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Sen. Clarence Nishihara said he hopes the governor will make clear the state has the authority to pre-empt the county initiatives. But Nishihara said he will likely propose a state pre-emption bill next year if Gov. Neil Abercrombie doesn’t take the lead. Associated Press.

Colleen Hanabusa, a U.S. representative, is far behind Brian Schatz, a U.S. senator, in the chase for campaign contributions. According to their most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission, Schatz has a 3-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage over his 2014 Democratic primary challenger. Civil Beat.

Clayton Hee, the chairman of the Senate committees on Judiciary and Labor revealed he was wearing a Kevlar vest during the first day of hearings on Senate Bill 1, which would eventually become the Marriage Equality Act. Civil Beat.

A national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization released a report Thursday that rates four Hawaii cities above the national average in LGBT inclusion in municipal law. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said Thursday it will begin allowing customers to use their own personal portable electronic devices on "airplane mode" during all phases of domestic flights, from takeoff through landing, and during more phases on international flights. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines passengers will now have the opportunity to snap photographs of world-famous Waikiki Beach and other scenic aerial views of Hawaii with their smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices during takeoff and landing. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines on Thursday announced it has completed the certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is now allowing customers to use their own personal Portable Electronic Devices (PED) on "airplane mode" during all phases of domestic flights, from takeoff through landing, and during more phases on international flights. Hawaii News Now.

Federal officials say the number of homeless people in Hawaii is up 8.6 percent since 2010 to more than 6,000, despite a drop in the national estimate. Star-Advertiser.

If the Office of Hawaiian Affairs doesn't get its act together and do a better job of fulfilling its mission, the Legislature will take action. That's the message from a legislative hearing on Thursday where officials from OHA sought to defend their management of the agency's land and grants in the wake of a scathing audit released in September. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has initiated a variety of measures intended to improve its lending program, including lowering interest rates for the first time in 17 years and launching a pilot program to address the most severely overdue loans on the east side of Hawaii island, an area with a particularly acute delinquency problem. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Rep. Tom Brower might have put his sledgehammer back in the tool shed, but there’s still one question we haven’t seen answered. How many laws did Brower actually break while on his wheel-bashing crusade against the homeless and their shopping carts? Civil Beat.

Assaults on workers at the Hawaii State Hospital are all too common, and taxpayers are picking up the tab for the cost of treatment and workers compensation. Hawaii Reporter.

Honolulu

Honolulu City Council members will have to make key decisions in the coming year about how users of TheBus, Handi-Van and, eventually, the new elevated rail system will all pay their fare under the same system. Star-Advertiser.

It's the nightmare before Christmas at Ala Moana Center, where this year's busiest shopping season is colliding head-on with the mall's largest redevelopment project. Star-Advertiser.

The former operator of the now-closed Senor Frog's restaurant and bar in Waikiki will pay $350,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of 13 female workers, including three teenage girls. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii


The Hawaii County Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday approved a special management area use permit for the Alii Kai park, allowing the long-promised project to move forward. West Hawaii Today.

An ambitious plan released late last week includes a new prison for West Hawaii and a new East Hawaii correctional complex that would combine the Hawaii Community Correctional Center, Kulani Correctional Facility, Hale Nani and associated facilities. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii island man who claims he was forced to get a liver transplant after taking the diet supplement OxyELITE Pro is suing the manufacturer and the retailer that sold it to him. Lawyers for Kenneth Wai­kiki, 22, of Kailua-Kona filed the lawsuit against Dallas-based USPlabs, company principals Jonathan Vincent Doyle and Jacob Geissler, and GNC Corp. in U.S. District Court in Hono­lulu on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Lawyers for the family of a New York teen killed during a kayak excursion at Kealakekua Bay last year said Tuesday that the trip’s organizers didn’t properly vet or train its leader. Associated Press.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa’s office has announced the signing of a “Memorandum of Understanding” agreement with the biotech giant Monsanto. HuffPost Hawaii.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa announced that he has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Monsanto, “obtaining assurances from the company that they will engage in safe practices involving restricted-use pesticides.” Maui Now.

Rare dolphin carcass washes up on Maui's north shore. KITV.

Maui Memorial Medical Center has been certified as a level 3 trauma center, meeting standards that should improve care and survivability of injured patients, Health Department and hospital officials said. Maui News.

An 18-year veteran police officer on Maui was arrested and released after being charged with abuse of a family or household member, for an incident involving the injury of his 13-year-old daughter, police said. Maui Now.

Kauai

A pair of Kauai residents claim they watched one of Justin Bieber’s security guards assault a man trying to take pictures of the 19-year-old celebrity Wednesday at Shipwreck’s Beach in Poipu. Garden Island.

Kauai County officials say they are no longer considering an area near Isenberg Park as a potential site for an adolescent drug treatment center first envisioned nearly seven years ago by former Mayor Bryan Baptiste. Instead, now Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. said he and other county officials identified a site along Maalo Road in Kapahi and currently owned by Lihue-based Grove Farm Company as the best site for the facility. Garden Island.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Hawaii Legislature to tackle gay marriage today. Rallies, editorial opinions, prayer vigils precede historic special session and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hilo gay pride parade file photo (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
Just hours before the opening of the same-sex special session, advocates on both sides of the issue are lining up at the State Capitol and Iolani Palace to voice their concerns. A gathering organized by the Gay, Lesbian & Transgender Caucus of the Hawaii Democratic Party attracted hundreds people at the state Capitol. The GLBT gathering came moments before the New Hope Church and New Hope Chapel Nanakuli hosted its own prayer vigil at Iolani Palace. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmakers are coming back to the Capitol for a special session to consider legalizing gay marriage. Legislators say the bill to be introduced Monday morning has overwhelming support in the Senate and enough support in the House to pass. Associated Press.

Hawaii, which had a pioneering role in the acceptance of same-sex marriage in the United States two decades ago, could become the 15th state to extend marriage rights to gay couples when state lawmakers meet this week for a special session. Reuters.

A rally and worship service were preludes to activism planned for today at the state Capitol. Hundreds of gay rights advocates are staging a "lobby day" this morning. Thousands of opponents of gay marriage are expected for an afternoon demonstration. Star-Advertiser.

It's a pretty good bet that the Aloha State will become the 15th state to allow marriage between same-sex couples. If all goes as planned — that is, if legislators are able to agree on language that satisfies supporters of marriage equality while granting deference to religious expression — Hawaii will follow New Jersey, where gay marriages became legal just last week. Civil Beat.

Hundreds of same-sex marriage supporters filled the state capitol rotunda Sunday afternoon as lawmakers get set to tackle the controversial same sex marriage bill on Monday. KITV.

Lawmakers will gather at the State Capitol Monday morning for a special session on several bills, but the most highly anticipated is a controversial proposal to legalize same-sex marriage. Senate leadership says the bill is expected to pass 21-4, but the real question has always been if the same-sex marriage bill will have the 26 votes it needs to pass in the House. Hawaii News Now.

Staffers at Senator Clayton Hee's office have been busy all weekend, sorting through dozens requests to testify in person. "We have evidently well over 1,000 who have indicated a desire to testify," Senator Clayton Hee said. KHON2.

State House Speaker Joseph Souki has rejected a request by House Republicans to remove Rep. Cynthia Thielen, the only Republican who supports same-sex marriage, from the House Judiciary Committee. Republicans, who are part of Souki's leadership coalition, wanted to replace Thielen with another Republican who opposes gay marriage. Star-Advertiser.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor will hold a hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1, Relating to Equal Rights, on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the State Capitol Auditorium. Hawaii Reporter.

We all know that a special session of the Hawaii Legislature is looking to elevate Hawaii to the ranks of states that offer equal treatment to adults who want to marry each other, regardless of a couple’s differing or similar anatomies. The surprise is that these laid-back islands famed for tolerance and a love of celebration — and home to the gayest population in the U.S. — will be the 15th state to let more people say “I do.”  Civil Beat.

Enormous social changes have come in the 23 years since three same-sex couples sued the state over their access to a marriage license. The Hawaii Constitution was amended by a popular vote, giving the Legislature the power to reserve marriage for heterosexual couples, the amendment passing with 53 percent of the vote. The lawsuit itself precipitated similar debates nationwide, culminating in Congress passing the Defense of Marriage Act. But now, amid a wave of changing attitudes across the country, DOMA has been struck down and Hawaii is one of more than a dozen states that have been rethinking the whole proposition. This is a development that we applaud. Star-Advertiser.

Some tribes allow gay couples to marry despite state bans. Associated Press.

Thousands of people working for the state’s 12-facility, community hospital system are making more money this year than last, according to a review of the latest salary information. But it’s not really a sign that things are getting better at the beleaguered Hawaii Health Systems Corp., which canned its CEO last summer and needs an emergency appropriation from the Legislature. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Education says it will need another $10.6 million to pay for utilities next year, a situation district officials blame on Hawaiian Electric Co.'s problems hooking up new solar. Civil Beat.

Nine environmental groups oppose nomination of Genevieve Salmonson as the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control. Hawaii Independent.

State roundup for October 28. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

While the recent pickup in Waikiki real estate values has been good for some property owners, it has created problems for senior renters displaced when long-term owners raise rents or sell. Leasehold evictions, expected to grow in Waikiki as owners take back their more valuable assets, could displace more seniors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A tiny beetle that damages coffee beans continues its destructive march across the island of Hawaii, home to the famous Kona brew. State agriculture officials say at least one Hilo-area coffee farm is infested with the destructive coffee berry borer. Associated Press.

Maui
Anaergia Services, the California-based company selected by the county to create and operate a waste conversion facility at the Central Maui Landfill, pledged Tuesday to make an effort to incorporate more recycling into project plans. Maui News.

Kauai
A piece of tsunami debris will become a display of tribute and education, if negotiations go the right way. Those on board say talks are positive, meaning the Japanese buoy found floating near Kauai could become a memorial at Port Allen soon. Garden Island.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Hawaii gets No Child waiver, transgender official wins White House recognition, Honolulu council sets $2B budget, Ala Wai pollution investigated, Kauai military range could be expanded, Maui sues Mainstreet Association, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Department of Education
Hawaii school, courtesy Department of Education
Hawaii's public schools will be allowed to ignore parts of the federal No Child Left Behind law in favor of a state-developed accountability system, under a waiver granted Monday by the U.S. Department of Education. Star-Advertiser.

The Obama administration on Monday approved Hawaii’s request for a waiver from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind education law. Associated Press.

Everyone riding in an automobile in Hawaii must now use a seat belt, under one of two traffic safety bills Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law Monday. The second new law bans drivers from holding cellphones and other electronic devices, in effect replacing various county ordinances. Star-Advertiser.

Car wheel boots may soon be banned in Hawaii — depending on whether Gov. Neil Abercrombie signs into a law a bill to outlaw the devices. Star-Advertiser.

Iwamoto
The White House will honor Hawaii Civil Rights Commission member Kim Coco Iwamoto, a transgender, on Wednesday as one of 10 LGBT elected or appointed officials who are "Harvey Milk Champions of Change." Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii President MRC Greenwood's sudden decision to step down with two years remaining on her contract caught many by surprise, even those closest to her. She has not addressed on camera her decision or what led up to it, until now. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii spent more than $53,000 hiring well-known Honolulu attorney Bill McCorriston to represent the UH Board of Regents after UH President MRC Greenwood sent the regents a letter offering to leave the university for a payment of $2 million. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council will take a final vote in two weeks on a balanced, $2 billion operating budget that neither raises property tax rates nor fees and makes no cuts in services. Star-Advertiser.

Taxpayers Pay When Ala Wai Pollution Hits Waikiki. Civil Beat.

State officials haven’t regularly monitored contaminants in the Ala Wai canal since 1999, according to the Hawaii Department of Health, which is responsible for enforcing the federal Clean Water Act that sets standards and limits on contaminants. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat Lab Tests: Ala Wai Canal Seafood Is Contaminated.

A vacationing U.S. Border Patrol agent died Sunday attempting to save a woman in distress in a pool at Waimea Falls. Star-Advertiser.

Organizers of an annual conference for people who manage more than $3 trillion in public sector pension funds in the U.S. and Canada say a significant number of administrators are skipping this year’s meeting in Hawaii to avoid the perception they’re wasting money by heading to the island paradise. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A late effort to buy Hawai'i Nui Brewing LLC, the bankrupt Hilo microbrewery, postponed a court auction Monday and has set up a potential bidding contest between a former Hawai'i Nui partner and a rival beer producer in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

A University of Hawaii-Hilo spokeswoman insists a $28 million dorm project will be ready by August, but a report obtained by Hawaii Reporter and Watchdog.org outlines numerous flaws in the taxpayer-funded project. Hawaii Reporter.

Hilo is at the end of the line but is finally about to get a full serving of Hawaii Public Radio. Most of the state — everywhere but East Hawaii — now gets the full array of HPR programming, said Michael Titterton, president and general manager of Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.

At nearly the last minute, the Hawaii County Democratic Party was forced to find a new location for its convention this past weekend. Civil Beat.

Maui
Maui County filed a lawsuit against Wailuku Main Street Association Inc./Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center on Monday afternoon claiming the organization violated its county grant agreement and should return more than $11,000 worth of personal property bought with county funds and any remaining funding obtained under the agreement. Maui News.

Maui County is looking for solar photovoltaic firms to install, operate, maintain and own solar PV systems, and then sell the energy generated to the county under a power purchase agreement. Pacific Business News.

After nine months of hosting public discussion meetings and working with county planners, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation is putting the finishing touches on a number of community-based projects to improve the Lahaina harbor front. Maui News

Kauai

The Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to establish a “new danger zone” in waters near the Kekaha Range Facility, on Kaua‘i’s Westside. If passed, a six-mile wide section of the Pacific Ocean will be occasionally closed to public access during scheduled weapons firing. Garden Island.

The gates to the Hanalei Pier canopy are once again open. “The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, thanks to the generous support of the entire community, has just finished the rebuilding of the canopy at the end of the Hanalei Bay Pier,” said Branch Lotspeich, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay spokesman. Garden Island.

The public is invited to share their ideas at community meetings regarding places on Kaua’i that they feel should be preserved and protected. Garden Island.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Hawaii gay marriage ban upheld, early voting ends today, Occupy Honolulu occupies police station, Kauai park smoking ban fails, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 All Hawaii News
Honolulu civil unions protest (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
A challenge of state laws banning same-sex marriage will now move to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, after a federal judge's ruling Wednesday upholding the prohibition and throwing out a lawsuit contending the ban violates the U.S. Constitution. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. District Court judge in Honolulu has rejected arguments from two lesbians who said that Hawaii's 1998 ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Civil Beat.

Governor Neil Abercrombie said today he is willing to appeal a Hawaii federal court’s decision that upholds the constitutionality of state law barring marriage between same-sex couples. Hawaii Reporter.

A federal judge ruled Wednesday against two Hawaii women who want to get married instead of enter into a civil union, handing a victory to opponents of gay marriage in a state that’s been at the forefront of the issue. Associated Press.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Kay upheld the state's current laws banning same-sex marriage in Honolulu federal court Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

A federal judge has ruled against two local women who want to get married. Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Alan Kay upheld Hawaii's law banning same-sex marriages. KHON2.

It's the last day for Hawaii voters to participate in early walk-in voting for this weekend's primary election. Hawaii News Now.

In Hawaii, it’s best not to let your politics get in the way of your aloha. That’s the message of some candidates heading into Saturday's primary. Civil Beat.

U.S. Senate candidate Mazie Hirono has raised over four times as much cash as her nearest opponent ahead of Saturday’s primary election, and is surpassed only by the presumptive Republican nominee, former Gov. Linda Lingle. Tribune-Herald.

The 2nd Congressional District race will most likely be decided in the Primary Election Saturday… with the Democratic Party winner going on to win in the General Election, November 6th. Hawaii Public Radio.

For the second time in two elections, Mufi Hannemann is pulling out the big guns to show his large group of powerful backers in the final week of the election. Civil Beat.

Ed Case says he'll fix Washington. Mazie Hirono's strength is a collaborative style. Linda Lingle is bipartisan. Civil Beat.

Three bills dealing with cybercrimes were passed by the Legislature in the spring and signed into law by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii drivers registered 22,110 new vehicles in the first six months of this year, up nearly 20 percent from the 18,510 registered in the first half of 2011, according to a Hawaii Auto Outlook report released Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for August 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Occupy Honolulu protesters set up a new encampment at the Honolulu Police Department's headquarters on South Beretania Street, asserting that city workers improperly seized their items. Star-Advertiser.

The Oahu Burial Council Chair says the council is back in business, for their second meeting, after a five month hiatus. KITV4.

Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) says it will resume its ads targeting Honolulu mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano now that he has been released from the hospital after suffering from a bleeding ulcer.  KHON2.

With three days before the primary election, Honolulu mayoral candidates are making a final fundraising push. Hawaii News Now.

A new exhibit at the Arizona Memorial museum will feature the Hiroshima atom bomb attack. Associated Press.

Officials at the Hawaii State Hospital are trying to balance public safety and patient privacy with a high-profile patient being allowed to take college classes unsupervised. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi is proud of all of his administration’s accomplishments during his first four years, but he really wishes he’d done more about the trash. West Hawaii Today.

Saying “poor performance” is not addressed in the ethics code, the Hawaii County Board of Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a complaint against Hilo Councilmen Donald Ikeda and Dennis Onishi. West Hawaii Today.

A new concessionaire is set take the reins Monday at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s Volcano House. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ 2012 conference will start as planned on Monday, with some 600 people from the federal circuits in nine western states gathering on Maui for the four-day event. Pacific Business News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa will offer opening remarks at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, taking place on Maui on August 13 to 16, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa. Maui Now.

Longtime state Sen. J. Kalani English represents the Senate's largest geographical district, which stretches across four islands - a distinction he says requires a special understanding that sets him apart from his opponents in Saturday's primary election. Maui News.

Kauai

Residential electricity rates fell in August on all islands except for Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk will be mailing every properly registered voter a signature card on August 8, 2012. Signatures on the cards will be captured electronically and used to verify (authenticate) the signatures on absentee ballots and other official voting and election documents. Hawaii Reporter.

A bill banning tobacco products in county parks, introduced 21⁄2 months ago by Kaua‘i County Councilman Dickie Chang, at first appeared to be a slam dunk. Garden Island.

Molokai
The state plans to build a $1.3 million hydroelectric power plant on Molokai to help defray the energy costs tied to pumping water from Waikolu Valley for its irrigation system. Maui News.